Device for catching boll-weevils.



G. E. KYSER & J. U. TILL. DEVICE FOR CATCHING BOLL WEEVILS.

PatentedSept. 18, 191?v 2 SHEETS-SHEET I. R N

I APPLICATION FILED MAR.27, 19!]. 1,240,736.

INVENTOR @862" ATTORNEY Jimm/w HAY/ 65$ EIY I WITNESSES KM/W I I I G. E. KYSER & J. U. TILL. DEVICE FOR CATCHING BOU. WEEVILS. APPLICATION mu) MAR. 21. 1911.

A. R 4 H m? MA 5 w w W my V WW 6 Y B 3 W m f 11 p k Cli Fail

later stage of growth.

ti it ll i f 53F BIRMINGHAM, All JIMI'E U. TILL, OF MGWILLIMKS, ALABAMIZ L, 3143 WALL IVLKNUFfiGTUEING (30., 013 BIEMIINGHAHSI, ALABAMA, A. 00R

DEVICE 150. 3. CATGHINEG BiJLL-lETTil'l-Elifllifi.

mun-un-mmm specification of Letters Patent. Patented fiooit, 158, llfill d,

Application filed march. 27, 1.917. ilcriul It's, 'lii'liil l.

ing boll weevils and for destroying the sums.

The prime object of this invention is to produce a light, simple and inexpensive device of improved. construction which may be readily curried and manipulated by the operator and which may be succssfully eniploycd for the purpose of gathering boll weevils infesting young and tender plants as Well as for operating upon plants at u A further object If the invention is to produce s simple and improved device of the class described which, by making certain minor clmuges sud adjustments, may be adapted to operate successfully cu plants at various stag of their growth for the purpose of gut c1' and removing the boll weevils inlestiug: e sumo as Well as for detaching and. gut: ring. infested leaves, punctured. squares and the like.

Further objects of the invention to simplify and iuu irovc the construction and arrangement or the detailed parts of the invention. i

llith these cool other ends in View which will readily I a the nature of the invention is better understood, .uc sumo con sists in the improved construction and novel arrangement sud combination of parts which will be hereinafter fully described one, purticul urly pointed outin the claims.

in the accompanying drawings has been illustrated u' simple and preferred form of the invention, it being, however, understood that no limitation necessarily made to the precise structural details thcreiu exhibited, but that cluiugcs, ulterutions und'niocliiiczh tions within the scope of the cluims may be resorted to when desired, I i In the drurvings: w

Figure l. is a. view in front elevation of e rlcvicu constructed in accordance with the invention, showing; how the sums Boll-weevils, oil which i Fig. 2 is s longitudinul vertical sectional View of the device.

Fig. 3 is at rear elevation.

Fig. l is e horizontal sectional View.

lug. is a longitudinal vertic'sl sectionul View of one of the troughs containing insccticide liquid.

The improved device mil-y be described as consisting of a. cage or casing sdup'ted for the passage lengthwise there-through or the plants that are to be operated upon, said cage being provided with troughs containing insecticide liquid, and with laint eugaging boaters whereby the wcevi s end infested portions will be detached and caused to drop intothe troughs, said cage being provided with an adjustable hendlewbereby it may be conveniently manipulated, and with a sling or brace whereby the Weight of the device may be transferred to the shoulder of the operator. Inthe form of the invention illustrated in the accompanying dr'mvings the cage is shown as being c0nstructed of side frames A each including a bottom member 15, upwardly converging front and rear side members 16 and 17 and :1 top member 18. These-side members, which muy be described as beingto'f trapezoidul shape, are arranged in upwardly. c011-' apertures 22 for the pussege of the fastening members 19. One provision is thus made for adapting the device to operate successfully on plants at verious stages of growth. The front and rear t'op'members 20, 21 are each provided with a 'rcinforcing brace intermediate the ends thcreof, seid reinforcing braces being extended upwardly to form lugs or cars Extending between the top pieces 20, 21 and side frames A, A andsccured in any convenient manner on he said top pieces is stop frame 25, said. top frame as Well as theside from s A, A. being covered with suitable materiel such as Wire fabric L" forming the sides ancl top of the cage. v i A; K

Suitably connected-Witlitlg'e A at the lower ends 1 dinully disposedgutbcring trougbs 26 which are spaced apart clearly seen in Figs 1,

do trainee A,

till

3 and 4 of the drawings to permit the passage of plantstherebetween, the distance be tween the troughs being governed by the distance at which the side frames are spaced apart by the top pieces 20, 21. The gat er- 'ing troughs are rounded or beveled at t eir front ends as seen at 27, and theyare provided with guards or deflectors 28 to prevent without giving the weevils an opportunity to escape.

The space between the rearward cndsof the side frames A is obstructed by curtains, 30 of flexible, preferably textile, material,-

said curtains being secured at their upper ends to the rear top piece 21 and at their outer side edges to the rear members 17 of the frames A. The inner edges of the curtains may be permitted to overlap as best seen in Fig. 4 and the lower end edges of the curtains are preferably provided with hems 31 for the reception of arms 32 which are hingedly connected with the lower ends of the frames A and the free ends of which are actuated in a forward direction by springs 33, the'forward movement of the free ends of said arms being limitedby contact with the rearward ends of the troughs 26.. The tension of the springs 33 should be merely suflicient to normally maintain the curtains in closed or obstructing position with respect to the interior of the cage but not to any other material resistance to the free passage of plants between the said curtains.

The side frames A are each provided with an upright bar 34 intermediate the front and rear ends thereof, said bars serving to support arms or beaters 35 which are connected with said bars by hinges 36, each arm 35 being beveled at its inner end to form a shoulder 37 adapted to abut on the bar 34 so as to limit the swinging movement in one direction of said I a-rm. These arms are shown extending obliquely in a rearward direction with respect tothe bars 34, so as to present inclined faces lying in the path of plants passing through the cage. Springs 38 are provided for actuating the beater arms to maintain them normally in an oblique position with the shoulders 37 abutting on the bars 34. A rocking bar 39 is pivotally connected with the top frame 25, said bar being provided with downwardly extendingbeater arms 40 that will lie in the lower ends of path of the top portions of the, plants, the

the beater arms 40 being actuated in a forward direction by means of a spring 41, and the rockingmovement of the bar 39 under the tension of the spring 41 being limited by a stop member 42.

The top frame-25 has a slot 43 in the forward portion thereof for the passage of a vertically disposed bar or member which is designated as the divider 44, said divider extending downwardly between the side frames A, A and about midway therebetween, the lower end of said divider terminating a short distance above the troughs 26. The front and rear top pieces 20, 21 and the braces 23 connected therewith are provided with longitudinal apertures 45 for the pars sage of a rod 46, and the divider 44 is provided with similar apertures 47 for the passage of said rod, the latter thus serving to secure the divider at various vertical adjustments according to the apertures 45 and 47 engaged thereby. The'rod 46 also passes axially through a handle 48 which extends longitudinally between the lugs 24 formed by the braces 23, the front end of said handle abutting on the rear face of the divider which latter is thereby braced and secured against tilting movement with respect to the slot 43. ponnected with the handle 48 adjacent tothe ends thereof are the lower ends of springs 49 the upper ends of which are connected together by a suitably constructed sling or shoulder strap 50 which is adjusted over the shoulder of the operator as clearly seenin Fig. 1', thus eiiabling the device which is supported by the springs to be carried, shaken and manipulated with perfect ease, the springs 49 especially enabling the operator to raise or lower the cage-like device according to the condition of the plants and inequalities in the ground, the device being also swung'or adjusted with perfect ease so as to enable plants. young and otherwise, to be engaged to the bestadvantage as seen by the operator.

The rear bars 17 of the side frames A. are each provided with-a series of screw eves 51 adapted for convenient connection therewith of the rearward ends-of a deflecting member 52,'tl1e same consisting preferably of a strip or ribbon of textile material the intermediate portion of which issupported by simply passing it over the It -ver .end of the divider 44 after which the ends thereof are connected with the screw eyes in any convenient manner so as to maintain it reasonably taut and in sufiicient frictional engagement with the divider to maintain it .lnposition. The deflector 52, as will be best seen bv reference to Fig. 4 presents a V-shaped appearance, the apex thereof being supported by the divider 44 about midway between the side frames A, A. When quite young and tender plants are to be opweaves erated upon they will be guided between the side portions of the deflector 52 and the obliquely and rearwardly extending connected at their upper-and lower ends with the upper and lower ends of the op- -posite side frames, so as to extend diagonally across the cage or structure of the device as clearly seen in Fig. 1. These deflectors, when used, will serve to bring the plants into more intermediate engagement -with the heaters than would otherwise be ossible. It is desired to be understood, owever, that the deflectors 52 and 53 as well as the divider 44 are to be utilized, as a rule, only when young and tender plants are to be operated upon by the device. When plants of mature growth are to be operated upon the divider 4.4 and the deflectors 52 and 53 are preferably detatchcd although the deflectors 53 may sometimes be permitted-to remain in position.

From the foregoing description, taken I in connection with the drawings hereto annexed, theioperation and advantages of this invent on will be readily understood by. those skilled in the art to which it appertains. The majority of machines in. present use for catching and destroying boll weevils are adapted for operating only on plants that have reached a mature stage of growth. In other words, the weevils are not gathered until the crop has been seriously injured or destroyed. By the present invention it is intended to provide an apparatus that is particularly designed and adapted for operating on young and tender plants, gathering and destroying the boil weevils before the plants have been seriously injured. It is with this end in view that we provide for the device being carried by theoperator in a position where he can manipulate and use it to the best possible advantage Without danger of injuring or destroying the young and tender 1 plants. This is a result which can not well be accomplished with machines that are mounted on wheels and either pushed or drawn by the operator or by annual power.

By the present invention a'bug catching de-v fv'icehas been provided which is adapted to becarried by the operator in a raised position with respect to the ground and to the plants that are tobe operated upon, said device having a carrying device including a shoulder strap and springs, the latter being sufficiently powerful to sup-- port the device in a raised position. The operator will thus be enabled to push the cage of the device downward against the tension of the springs to a plant engaging position while, when not in active use the device will be supported in a raised position walls, being upwardly converged, will not inconvenience the operator or compel him to support it outwardly from his side or with respect to his limbs which could not fail to be \vcarisome. The weevils and infested materials that drop into the gather ing troughs may be subsequently destroyed in any preferred manner.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is: I

1. In a device of the class described, a cage comprising upwardly convergent side frames, front and rear top pieces with which said side frames are connected, and a top frame interposed between the side frames and the front and rear top pieces, said top frame having a spring actuated rocking bar provided with downwardly extending heaters. I w

2. In a device of the class described, a cage comprising upwardly couvergentsidc frames, front and rear top pieces with which said side frames are connected, and a top frame interposed between the side frames and the front and rear top pieces, said top frame having a spring actuated rockmg bar provided with downwardly extend ng heaters, and said side frames having-upright bars, beaters hingedly connected with said bars and having limiting shoulders abutting thereon, and actuating springs for said heaters.

3. In a device of the class described, a cage comprising upwardly convergent side frames, front and rear top pieces with which said side frames are connected, a top frame, boaters connected with the side and top frames, a divider extending through the top frame, means for securing the divider at variousvertical adjustments, and a flexible V- said front and rear top pieces and braces i having longitudinal apertures, a divider ex- I tending thgough the top frame, a connecting rod extending through the apertured top pieces and braces and through the divider, and a handle axially engaged by the rod and extending between the divider and the braces extended upwardly to form lugs, and said front and rear top pieces and braces having longitudinal apertures, a divider extending through the top frame, a connecting rod extending through the apertured top pieces and braces and through the divider, and a handle axially engaged by the rod and extending. between the divider and the braces on the rearward top piece, in combination with suitably arranged spring actuated beaters within the cage. r

(3. In a device of the class described, a cage-like structure comprising top and side frames and interiorly arranged beaters, 'divergent wings connected with the front portions of the side frames, overlapping flexible curtains connected with the rear portions of'the side frames and having their upper portions also connected with the top portion of the cage, in combination with spring actuated arms with which the lower end portions of the fiexiblecurtains are connected to maintain said curtains normally in obstructing position with respect to theinte -rior of the cage.

7. In a device of the class described, a cage-like structure comprising top and side frames and interiorly arranged beaters, divergent wings connected with the front portions of the side frames, overlapping flexible curtains connected with the rear portions of the side frames and having their upper portions also connected with the top portion of the cage, in combination with spring actuated arms with which the lower end portions of the flexible curtains areconnected to maintain said curtains normally in obst'ructing position with respect to the interior of the cage, and gathering troughs carried by the lower ends of the side frames, the rearward ends of'said troughs lying in the path. of the spring actuated arms to limit the forward movementthereof.

.S. In a device of the class described, a

cage-like structure having upwardly convergent side frames, interiorly arranged beaters, divergent wings connected with the forward portions of the side frames, flexible curtains arranged to obstruct the space between the rearward ends of the side frames,

' and flexible deflecting means arranged and supported between the side frames for cosupported between the side frames ,for '00- with a handle adj ustably connected with the device and carrying means including a shoulder strap and springs whereby the ends of said shoulder strap are connected with the handle. I

10. In a device of the class described, a cage comprising upwardly convergent side frames, front and rear top pieces with which said side frames are connected, a longitudinally disposed handle at the top of the cage, and a carrying device including a shoulder strap and springs whereby the ends of said shoulder strap are connected with thehai dle.

11. In a device of the class described, a cage comprising upwardly convergent side frames, front and rear top pieces with which said frames are connected, a longitudinally disposed handle extending between said front and rear top pieces and connected therewith; and a carrying device including a shoulder strap and springs whereby the ends of said shoulder strap are connected with the handle.

12. Ina device of the class described, a. cage having upwardly convergent side frames, front and rear top pieces with which the side frames are connected, said top pieces having vertical series ofapertures, a

" handle extending longitudinally between the j front and rear top pieces,- a pin extending through the'top pieces and the handle adjnstably connecting the handlewith said top pieces, and a' carrying device including a shoulder strap and springs donnecting the ends of said shoulder strap with the handle.

13. In a device of the class described,

a cage having side members connected at their upper ends and spaced apart at their lower ends, Said side members being provided with troughs adjacent to their lower ends and with interiorly' arranged beaters,

in combination with a deflecting element .ar-'

signaoperation with the beaters, in combination I l l 

